Overview
SEA CUSTOMS SPECIALIST Jobs in Mombasa County, Kenya at TWYFORD INTERNATIONAL (Kenya)
Title: SEA CUSTOMS SPECIALIST
Company: TWYFORD INTERNATIONAL (Kenya)
Location: Mombasa County, Kenya
About the Role
KEDA Kenya Ceramics is seeking an experienced Sea Customs Specialist to manage end-to-end customs clearance operations for sea freight imports. The role requires strong hands-on expertise in customs processes, regulatory compliance, stakeholder coordination, and exception management within the port and inland clearance environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage the full end-to-end customs clearance process for sea freight imports, including IDF preparation, entry registration, declaration, customs inspection, cargo release, container pickup, in-transit control, and empty container return.
- Prepare, verify, and validate all clearance documentation including Commercial Invoices, Packing Lists, Certificates of Origin, COC, and Bills of Lading, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and completeness.
- Review and approve cargo manifest data, perform final customs entry validation, and verify duties and taxes.
- Prepare and submit duty- and tax-exempt applications for project cargo and follow up with KRA on approvals.
- Monitor clearance timelines and ensure timely submission of all regulatory documentation.
- Identify, control, and resolve key risk areas including customs valuation disputes, duty discrepancies, regulatory inspections, and release delays.
- Verify E-SLIPs for duties, taxes, and penalties, submit payments via the OA system, and follow up with Finance on payment status and exceptions.
- Track vessel schedules and allocate shipments based on tender outcomes, agent performance, and CFS clearance conditions.
- Maintain and update clearance tracking sheets, valuation registers, and shipment records to ensure data accuracy and visibility.
- Operate the TMS system to place transport orders and coordinate container pickup with transport providers.
- Manage container and truck exceptions including overweight cases, accidents, breakdowns, container overturning, escort requirements, and unloading delays, ensuring timely empty returns.
- Follow up closely with clearing agents to ensure smooth execution of all clearance activities.
- Organize, archive, and upload all customs clearance documents to shared drives and internal systems.
- Manage third-party warehouse pickup, delivery, and closure for domestic door-to-door (DDP) cargo.
- Update container tracking records, monitor shipping line manifests, and manage Delivery Order releases.
- Apply for shipping line invoices, verify rates and charges, submit payment requests through OA, track payments, update shipping cost registers, and archive invoices and vouchers.
- Apply for shipping line pre-advice and empty container depot appointments and record empty return status.
- Calculate demurrage, apply for waivers, process payments, and document all related exceptions.
- Issue early warnings on potential demurrage exposure and coordinate closely with the transport team.
- Participate in shipping line performance review meetings and provide service improvement recommendations.
Qualifications & Experience
- Minimum of 3 years’ hands-on experience in sea freight customs clearance operations.
- Strong working knowledge of import clearance for raw materials, spare parts, machinery, ceramic tiles, and sanitary ware, including regulatory and practical execution.
- Proven working relationships with KRA, KEBS, KPA, CFS, and ICD Mombasa, with the ability to resolve operational exceptions such as yard transfers, demurrage, inspections, and valuation disputes.
- Demonstrated experience in managing customs valuation issues, including analysis, defense, and resolution of valuation adjustments.
- High proficiency in Microsoft Excel, with strong attention to data accuracy and analytical detail.
- Practical experience using customs, logistics, and internal systems such as iCMS, TMS, and OA platforms.